Volume 73, Issue 14 by The Highlander- UCR

THEHIGHLANDER

84-80 VICTORY VS UCI

UC Riverside upsets first place UC Irvine in overtime

UCR jumps into the top-three in the Big West standings, riding a three-game win streak.

On Thursday night, the University of California, Riverside (UCR) men’s basketball team shocked Big West frontrunner UC Irvine (UCI) in overtime, pulling off an 84-80 victory. It was their fifth victory in conference play this season, and it demonstrated that UCR can compete with anybody in the conference.

Barrington Hargress led the way for the Highlanders, scoring 20 points and hitting

the game-sealing shot in overtime with 15 seconds remaining. “It’s just a shot I work on … I knew that I was gonna get to that shot and I had all the confidence in the world that they weren’t gonna stop me making that shot,” Hargress said when describing the play postgame.

When asked what the win over the Anteaters meant for the program, Hargress com-

By: Terry Nguyen, Assistant Sports Editor

mented, “This means everything. [UCI] is a great group that constantly wins championships and that’s where we wanna be. It’s a great test in the middle of the season to see where we are at and every time we go against them it’s always war, and that’s what we love…[we’ll] be ready to die on the court.”

Head coach Mike Magpayo was really happy with the performance of the High-

landers, and when asked if it was the biggest win at the Student Recreation Center (SRC) Arena in his career, he responded, “It’s right up there … This is the best Irvine team that we’ve played [because they’re] a top 50 team on a roll, undefeated in league, with an elite defense.

American tech company Oracle looks to purchase TikTok

TikTok ban postponed for 75 days, until American company can acquire partial ownership.

By: Senna Omar, Editor-in-Chief

For the more than 170 million monthly American TikTok users, on the evening of Saturday, Jan. 17, Titkok was unavailable in the United States (U.S.) for 14 hours. This ban comes after the Supreme Court decision on Jan. 17, 2025 in Tiktok v. Garland, citing national security concerns as motivations for banning Tiktok’s operations in the U.S.

Complying with the Supreme Court decision, American users of the ByteDance owned platform opening the app during the ban were met with a message stating, “Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now. A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now. We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned.”

This ban was initiated by President Donald J. Trump during his first term in 2020, where he cited, “The spread in the United States of mobile applications developed and owned by companies in [China] continues to threaten the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States.”

Tracking Trump: First day in office sees barrage of executive orders

Roll back of Biden-era immigration, DEI, public health and environmental policies

By: Senna Omar, Editor-in-Chief

After his inauguration into the United States (U.S.) presidency, Donald J. Trump has issued a barrage of executive orders in his first week of office. In an effort to reverse policies enacted during Former President Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s administration, in his “Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions,” President Trump revoked 78 Biden-era executive orders.

Within hours of his inauguration, President Trump issued a sweeping grant of clemency to all of the nearly 1,600 people charged with attacking the capitol during the Jan. 6 insurrection. This pardon included 14 members of the Proud Boys — a rightwing white supremacy group — and the Oath Keepers militia. Former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio was also pardoned from his 22-year prison sentence of seditious conspiracy, a crime that requires prosecutors to prove that a defendant used violent force against the government.

In a move that public health experts say will “undermine America’s standing as a global health leader,” President Trump withdrew the U.S. from the World Health Organization (WHO).

Courtesy of Variety

Adelia Urena // THE HIGHLANDER

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In pursuit of social justice: Protests assemble in San Bernardino on MLK day

MATA ELANGOVAN Managing Editor

OPEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE INLAND EMPIRE COME TOGETHER IN SUPPORT OF ONE ANOTHER.

n Inauguration Day, Monday Jan. 20, 2025, protestors gathered at San Bernardino City Hall in observance of the National Day of Action to mobilize against “Trump’s ultraright, billionaire agenda.” As one of over 80 cities taking part in the action, amidst the roaring winds, people from all walks of life in the Inland Empire took a stance in the pursuit of various rights.

Various organizations were present, from the Party of Social Liberation (PSL), the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America Local 4811 (UAW 4811), Palestinian Youth Movement, Planned Parenthood and Service Employees International Union Local 2015 (SEIU2015).

The protest began with an opening statement proclaiming that they are present in support of the working class, stating, “We don’t care for the Democrat or Republican. We’re here for ourselves, communities and the working class. There’s another great revolutionary that we are celebrating today across the world, Dr. Martin Luther King, a man who is widely and understandably revered, respected and loved by the working class.”

Standing next to a statue of the reverend himself, the protesters laid out ground rules of peace and sharing experiences, inviting members of the community to come up and say a few words to the crowd.

From sharing aspirations of building a strong working class to calling out the “horrible” evictions taking place in redlined communities, people had a chance to share and connect with

the community. Deborah, a resident of Riverside County’s seventh ward — located in the La Sierra area — vocalized her experiences being evicted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sam and Ray from Teamsters Local 1932 spoke out against the Amazon warehouses in the Inland Empire (IE), mistreatment of the workers and the mass spanning of Amazon warehouses across the IE. Not only were they able to share the injustices, they also got to spread hope through the work they have done by becoming “the first unionized Amazon air hub and the tenth unionized Amazon … Just by coming together, we’ve been able to win some amazing things. We won the highest pay rise of any Amazon in the country.”

Amidst the various speeches taking place during the protest, people among the crowd were holding up signs sharing their own thoughts. People from Redlands to Anaheim to Long Beach to Riverside held up signs which exclaimed, “People for People’s Needs!” and “¡Poder Para la Clase Trabajadora!” In between, people chanted, “Money for jobs and education, not for war or occupation” and “Hey hey! Ho ho! Killer cops have got to go!”

Demond Manuel from PSL and UAW4811 was one of the main speakers during the day and shared insight into the organizing process. By bringing together different organizations and methods of outreach, they aimed to create one of the biggest demonstrations ever seen in San Bernardino. He further stated, “We’re not going to take two things. We’re not going to take the attacks on immigrants, the attacks on healthcare, the attacks on education, lying down. We’re going to come out in mass, we’re going to organize campaigns, we’re going to talk to

our neighbors to figure out how we can figure out an alternative.”

Manuel ends by sharing, “When we actually come together, when we organize, when we’re united as a working class, and don’t let them divide us between Democrat and Republican, then we can change the world and we can improve our situation.”

Jocelyn Paz, a student from California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) was present at the rally speaking on behalf of one of her school’s organizations, Students for Quality Education. She shares that “recently, all CSUs have upped their tuition, making it impossible for a lot of students, especially international students, to now come into higher education. Since CSUs are public universities and have one of the lowest tuition rates… CSUSB is literally the cheapest public university in the country and it is still being closed off to a lot of the working class because of those tuition raises.”

Don Indolino, a member of the IE Democratic Socialists of America (IEDSA) shared some hopes he had for PSL in the future. “I think that PSL should talk a little bit more to the organizations that have already been here, that have already existed in the Inland Empire, to get the vibe of what we’ve already been doing, so that we’re not repeating mistakes… Our elders have been in this fight before, and so it’s good to invite them into conversation, see what they’ve been doing, see what’s worked for them and what hasn’t worked for them. Or else we’re just gonna end up repeating the same mistakes and nothing’s gonna change.”

■ H

Economic impacts of the Los Angeles wildfires

THE LA WILDFIRES CAUSED BILLIONS IN ECONOMIC LOSSES, STRAINING INSURANCE AND RECOVERY EFFORTS.

SARAH TABEL Contributing Writer

The recent outbreak of fires in Los Angeles (LA) have amounted to an estimated economic loss of $250 billion, making it the costliest natural disaster in United States (U.S.) history. The fires first spread through neighborhoods in Pacific Palisades, Altadena and Malibu, and over the past three weeks, firefighters have battled these fires.

With these fires spreading — threatening communities in Ventura County, Brentwood and Bel-Air — LA County firefighters have reported over 5,300 destroyed structures in the Palisades and 5,000 structures consumed by the blaze of the Eaton Fire. As of Sunday, Jan. 26, the Palisades Fire — which has burned over 23,400 acres — is 84 percent contained and the Eaton fire which has destroyed over 14,000 acres, is 95 percent containment.

In response to the LA wildfires, California State Gov. Gavin Newsom continues to issue legislative orders aimed at providing relief to those affected by the fire. On Jan. 8, Gov. Newsom secured a Major Disaster Declaration from Former President Joe Biden, which qualifies residents and businesses in affected areas for tax

relief.

Later that week, he announced that the California Franchise Tax Board will provide a state disaster tax relief for any affected business and taxpayers. The legislation offers affected taxpayers an extension for tax payments and filing of 2024 tax returns, originally due between Jan. 7 and Oct. 15, 2025. This also includes an extension on tax returns and payments typically due on April 15 as well as quarterly tax payments due on the fifteenth of January, April, June and September of 2025.

On Jan, 12, Gov. Newsom also issued an executive order to expedite the rebuilding of businesses and homes destroyed by the fire. This legislation temporarily waived the California Environmental Quality Act and the California Coastal Act — both of which were designed to safeguard natural resources.

Additionally, Gov. Newsom signed an executive order to restore any damaged properties, allowing federal hazardous material teams to promptly begin debris removal. On Jan. 23, Gov. Newsom joined city legislative officials in Altadena to sign legislation allocating

$2.5 billion for disaster relief. Gov. Newsom also claimed that he plans to direct “millions of dollars” to support local governments in speeding up building approvals for homes lost in the fire.

The $2.5 billion that were allocated to expedite firestorm recovery will fund any emergency protective measures, shelters for survivors and assessment of post fire hazard. The legislation also includes allocating $4 million to impacted local governments that will provide resources for building inspection of affected homes, and allocating $1 million to rebuild any damaged school facilities.

Amid these efforts, JP Morgan analysts estimate that the insurance industry will face a hit, with losses starting at $8 billion. As multiple insurance companies announced they will not be renewing their policies, many California homeowners are left uninsured. Meanwhile, the California Fair Plan policy provides basic fire insurance coverage for homeowners in high risk areas, capping the insurance payments for natural disasters at $3 million.

On Jan. 8, California State Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara announced that he would prevent insurance companies from canceling policies in wildfire impacted areas. However, no further actions have been taken to ensure that property owners in these areas are reimbursed, leading many to turn to the California Fair Plan and private insurance companies.

While Los Angeles addresses the impacts of recent wildfires, the city is also preparing to host several global events in the upcoming years, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the 2027 Super Bowl and the 2028 Summer Olympics.

Despite the Palisades Fire coming close to the Riviera Country Club — where the Olympic golf competitions are set to take place — the venue remains undamaged. Paul Krekorian, a spokesperson for the LA Olympic Committee, stated that there will be no delays for the 2028 Olympics. The city continues its preparations for these highly anticipated events, solidifying LA as a global hub for entertainment.

Discussions of donations for LA wildfire relief and R’Gear budget

SENNA OMAR Editor-in-Chief

Associated Students of the University of California, Riverside’s (ASUCR) third meeting of winter quarter was called to order at 7:02 p.m. The meeting began with a friendly amendment to the agenda, adding the Executive Cabinet’s “Statement on the Inauguration of President Trump,” to new business.

Makai Harrison, Vice Chair of UCR’s chapter of California Public Interest Research Group (CALPIRG), was the first to speak during public forum. He came to give an update on CALPIRG’s fundraising efforts for those affected by the Los Angeles (LA) wildfires. According to Harrison, UCR’s chapter of CALPIRG successfully raised over $5,000 during their fundraiser with the Wildfire Relief Fund and World Central Kitchen on Martin Luther King Jr. day.

Additionally, Harrison reminded the crowd that CALPIRG is a “nonprofit student led and student funded organization … This means that the student body is the group of people who make it possible for us to do things like lobby at the capitol.” He urged every student to “pledge the quarterly $10 CALPIRG fee” to aid in running their campaigns on campus.

Harrison closed his statement by discussing CALPIRG’s environmental

initiatives, emphasizing the importance of lobbying government officials to keep California’s “coasts and sea life safe.”

Vice President of External Affairs (VPEA) Vivian Herrera was next to speak. She began by giving a “huge shout out to [the] labor committee who has been working nonstop on a Know Your Rights workshop” in collaboration with Inland Empire (IE) United, Young Democratic Socialists (YDS) and UCR’s Labor Council for Latin American Advancement.

Last to speak during public forum was Assistant Elections Director Aushee, giving information about the upcoming 2025-2026 ASUCR elections. She stated that candidacy applications are currently open, and will close on Jan. 31 at 11:59 p.m. Aushee explained that all questions regarding the candidacy process should be directed to either her or Kevin Arizmendi, the elections director. Candidacy applications can be found in the Instagram bio of @ASUCR_elections.

Moving on to new business, a motion to open discussion on the “Statement on the Inauguration of President Trump” was passed 14-0-0. Authored by ASUCR President Abby Choy alongside the rest of the Executive Cabinet, Executive Vice President (EVP) Naia Pizarro read the

statement to the senate. EVP Pizarro stated there will be a resolution and legislation from the executive cabinet within the coming weeks regarding the recent inauguration of President Donald Trump.

During EVP Pizarro’s reading of the statement, at 7:13 p.m College of Humanities Arts and Social Sciences (CHASS) Senator Anahita Hooshyari Far and CHASS Senator Ryan Jun-Min Choi arrived at the meeting.

Bourns College of Engineering (BCOE) Senator Allison Pham presented the finance committee meetings. She discussed allocation exemption to raise the equipment limit for Designing Dreams from $300 to $1,000, allocation exemptions for the American Society of Mechanical Engineers to raise their equipment limit from $300 to $2,853, a $1,500 grant request for East African Student Associations, an allocation exemption for Melody Makers raising their equipment budget from $300 to $1,000, a $1,500 grant request for Beta Alpha Psi’s upcoming professional event and organization allocations for nine registered UCR organizations for the amount of $12,727. All of these resolutions passed 16-0-0.

While BCOE Senator Pham explained the finance committee minutes, newly

appointed School of Business Senator Dhruv Patel was excused for the rest of the meeting. Senator Pham closed, discussing a “contingency request of $22,000 for the Office of the President for the R’Gear purchase,” passing 15-0-0.

Three new pieces of legislation were reviewed by the senate, all passing 15-00. SB-W25-005: Bill to Move Highlander Pride Committee, moved the Highlander Pride Committee to the Office of Personnel. SB-W25-006: Bill to Remove Highlander Pride Committee Chapter — complementing the previous bill — removed the Highlander Pride Committee as its own chapter.

SB-W25-007: Amendment to Chapter 6 - Option for BCOE Senators, allows BCOE Senators the option to replace their Winter Quarter Town Hall with the ASUCR Research Exposition event.

Senator reports saw CHASS Senator Hooshyari Far’s discussion of the upcoming donation drive for those affected by the LA wildfires she organized in collaboration with the Green Campus Action Committee (GCAP) and External Affairs. They will be accepting donations for menstrual products, baby products and moving boxes during tabling on Wednesdays.

OpenAI and Boeing whistleblowers found dead, sparking concern regarding accountability

MULTIPLE WHISTLEBLOWERS FOUND DEAD AFTER SPEAKING OUT ABOUT THEIR COMPANIES.

On March 9, 2024, Boeing whistleblower John Barnett was found dead in his car. Reports suggested suicide, but his lawyers and family attested to his “good spirits” sparking a debate regarding the suspicious nature of his death.

In a similar turn of events, on Nov. 26, 2024, OpenAI researcher-turnedwhistleblower Suchir Balaji was found dead in his apartment. While reports suggested suicide and the police found no signs of foul play, the BBC suggests that there may have been more involvement from his former company.

Both Barnett and Balaji had spoken out against their prior employers. Barnett was a long-time employee of Boeing, providing 32 years of service, spending his last seven as a quality manager. He was also actively involved in a lawsuit against the company claiming they cut corners while creating their 777 and 787 Dreamliner jets that could result in large civilian casualties. After not attending a portion of the hearing, police investigated his whereabouts and found his body.

He was found with a gun in his hand and a notebook with a suicide note expressing his love for his family, his stress and hopes that Boeing will be punished for their crimes. Ballistic reports confirmed

that the bullet was from a gun that he was holding, however, lawyers and his family were still suspicious due to the active lawsuit and mistreatment in the past. One of Barnett’s brothers expressed that after reporting the company to Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Barnett faced workplace harassment via embarrassment.

Two months after Barnett’s death, another Boeing whistleblower, Joshua Dean, died of a “fasting-moving mysterious illness.”

Following his death, Boeing is facing 10 more whistleblowers exposing the safety concerns for the new jets that are being manufactured. Additionally, in the midst of these two deaths, CEO Dave Calhoun has announced his step down in an abrupt manner, as described by New York Post.

The 10 whistleblowers that have come to light are involved in the ongoing lawsuit against Boeing. A lawyer that represented both Barnett and Dean expressed that “these men were heroes. So are all the whistleblowers. They loved the company and wanted to help the company do better” to the New York Post.

Balaji was a 26-year-old researcher for OpenAI. In the months leading up to his death, he was speaking publicly about the malpractice as the company was facing

multiple lawsuits. In an interview with the New York Times, Balaji concluded that “OpenAI’s use of copyrighted data to build ChatGPT violated the law and that technologies like ChatGPT were damaging the internet.”

After the reports suggest suicide, Balaji’s mother, Poornima Rao, went to X and expressed that her son’s death was “a cold blooded mu*d*r” and demanded the Federal Bureau of Investigation get involved. She tagged Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, Gov. Gavin Newsom and Michelle Smith. After the post gained attention, Musk commented on her post expressing, “This doesn’t seem like a suicide.”

Balaji’s parents believe that the scene does not look as if he struggled. They visited Balaji’s apartment with George Webb, an investigative journalist, and the video was posted to X. In the video, Rao stated that “they are not giving the police report, they’re not us giving the original autopsy. They’re hiding the head injury, in spite of us showing them the pictures of the blood shot from the bathroom, the authorities are not taking this into account. We have an autopsy report that doesn’t confirm suicide at all, its anti-suicidal.”

DINARA GODAGE Assistant News Editor

American tech company Oracle looks to purchase TikTok

TIKTOK BAN POSTPONED FOR 75 DAYS, UNTIL AMERICAN COMPANY CAN ACQUIRE PARTIAL OWNERSHIP.

Responding to these concerns, Congress adopted the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act in April of 2024. With strong bipartisan support, this law made it unlawful for companies to provide services enabling TikTok to operate in the U.S. by Jan. 19, 2025 — this ban would be lifted if the company was sold to non-Chinese owners.

In a switch from previous policy, President Trump implemented an executive order titled, “Application of Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act to Tiktok.” With this order, Trump demanded the attorney general not to enforce the law, banning the site for 75 days to give the Trump administration “an opportunity to determine the appropriate course forward.”

Users were welcomed back to the platform with a message stating, “Welcome back! Thanks for your patience and support. As a result of President Trump’s efforts, TikTok is back in the U.S.!

You can continue to create, share, and discover all the things you love on TikTok.”

TikTok is still technically banned in the U.S., and is currently not available for download on Android or iPhone. However, users who had previously downloaded the app can now access the social media platform.

In a video message posted on the platform after the ruling, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew stated, “On behalf of everyone at TikTok and all our users across the country, I want to thank President Trump for his commitment to work with us to find a solution that keeps TikTok available in the United States … This is a strong stand for the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship.”

Before this Jan. 19 deadline, Chew had remained staunch in his commitment to fight the

Supreme Court’s decision to ban TikTok, claiming that this ban is a violation of the U.S. constitutional right to free speech.

Currently, TikTok is safe, however the future of Tiktok’s ownership is currently unknown. President Trump stated in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, “I would like the United States to have a 50 percent ownership position in a joint venture. By doing this, we save TikTok, keep it in good hands and allow it to say up … Therefore, my initial thought is a joint venture between the current owners and/or new owners whereby the U.S. gets a 50 percent ownership in a joint venture set up between the U.S. and whichever purchase we so choose.”

The Trump administration is currently working with software company Oracle and a group of outside investors to, according to NPR, take control of the app’s global operations. Under this deal, ByteDance — the China-based TikTok owner — would retain a minority stake in the company, and all of the app’s algorithm, data collection and software updates will be overseen by Oracle.

NPR’s anonymous source directly involved with the negotiations says that “the goal is for Oracle to effectively monitor and provide oversight with what is going on with TikTok … ByteDance wouldn’t completely go away, but it would minimize Chinese ownership.”

Clay fire burns 40 acres of Riverside County

FIRES IN RIVERSIDE AND JURUPA VALLEY QUICKLY SMOTHERED OVER THE WEEKEND

Beginning on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, the Clay Fire erupted in Riverside County, burning approximately 40 acres of land. As of Saturday, Jan. 25. 2025, the Clay Fire is 100 percent contained, however, the causes of the fire remain unclear and an investigation is currently underway.

First reported at 5 p.m., the blaze began “near the intersection of Van Buren Boulevard and Clay Street” in Jurupa Valley. The fire reportedly began as a two-acre fire and spread, encompassing roughly 40 acres of land. Initially the flames burned parallel to homes in Riverside but then began spreading westward and endangering structures. An evacuation order was issued around 7:30 p.m. for several areas close to the disaster.

Many crews on the scene requested the support of “10 additional fire engines, dozers and night-flying helicopters for water drops.” Crews could also be seen cutting down brush and using bulldozers to clear burnt ground. On Jan. 25 at 12 a.m. the fire was fully contained. Further details regarding the cause of the fire will be released in the weeks to come.

SENNA OMAR Editor-in-Chief

SENNA OMAR / THE HIGHLANDER

SANJANA THATTE News Editor

Tracking Trump: First day in office sees barrage of executive orders

ROLL BACK OF BIDEN-ERA IMMIGRATION, DEI, PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES.

SENNA OMAR Editor-in-Chief

Within hours of his inauguration, President Trump issued a sweeping grant of clemency to all of the nearly 1,600 people charged with attacking the capitol during the Jan. 6 insurrection. This pardon included 14 members of the Proud Boys — a right-wing white supremacy group — and the Oath Keepers militia. Former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio was also pardoned from his 22-year prison sentence of seditious conspiracy, a crime that requires prosecutors to prove that a defendant used violent force against the government.

In a move that public health experts say will “undermine America’s standing as a global health leader,” President Trump withdrew the U.S. from the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO responded to the U.S. withdrawal, stating “The World Health Organization regrets the announcement that the United States of America intends to withdraw from the Organization … We hope the United States will reconsider and we look forward to engaging in constructive dialogue to maintain the partnership between the USA and WHO, for the benefit of the health and well-being of millions of people around the globe.”

President Trump, in the executive order, cites the WHO’s alleged “mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic that arose out of Wuhan, China, and other global health crises, its failure to adopt urgently needed reforms, and its inability to demonstrate independence from the inappropriate political influence of WHO member states. In addition, the WHO continues to demand unfairly onerous payments from the United States, far out of proportion with other countries’ assessed payments” as motivations behind withdrawal from the organization.

Echoing his 2017 decision to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement, in an executive order titled “Putting America First in International Environmental Agreements,” President Trump withdrew from the global Paris accords for the second time. President Trump’s order declares that the Paris accord is one of a number of international agreements that “steer American taxpayer dollars to countries that do not require, or merit, financial assistance in the interests of the American people.”

Withdrawing from the agreement makes America one of only four nations — alongside Libya, Yemen and Iran — not participating in the Paris climate accords. Director and Lead Economist for the Climate and Energy Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) Dr. Rachel Cleetus put out a statement responding to this withdrawal, stating, “Pulling out of the Paris Agreement is an

abdication of responsibility and undermines the very global action that people at home and abroad desperately need.”

In another roll back for environmental protections, President Trump’s executive order, “Unleashing American Energy” terminated the Green New Deal. This congressional legislation, originally introduced by Congresswomen Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC), laid out a plan for tackling the climate crisis.

In a series of executive orders signed on his first day in office, President Trump attempted to seal the nation’s border from migrants, “crack down” on undocumented immigrants in the U.S. and cut off birthright citizenship for children of noncitizens. Many of these executive orders “test the legal limits of his authority” and are currently facing challenges in court.

Among the most prominent of these executive orders was President Trump’s declaration of a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border. According to the Trump Administration, this order directs the Secretary of Defense to deploy members of the Armed Forces and National Guard to the southern border, as well as directs the Secretary of Defense and Homeland Security to complete the wall along the southern border.

On Jan. 20, 2025, in an executive order titled “Protecting the People Against Invasion.” President Trump authorized the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to suspend the physical entry of illegal migrants through the southern border and deport those unlawfully present in the U.S.

Continuing his crackdown on immigration, President Trump issued an executive order, “Guaranteeing the States Protection Against Invasion.” The order declares an ongoing “invasion” of migrants at the southern border and invokes Article IV, section four of the Constitution, which states, “The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.” With this order, DHS has the authority to block asylum seekers and those seeking entry from the southern border.

“Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship,” an executive order set to limit birthright citizenship to children who have at least one parent who is a green card holder or U.S. Citizen. This executive change to the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution — stating, “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws” — has already faced challenges in court from 22 states.

Rolling back protections for people of

color and trangender communities, in an executive order titled “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing, President Trump terminated Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs in the federal workforce, federal contracting and federal spending.

This executive order revokes Executive Order 11246: Equal Employment Opportunity, a Johnson-era policy that prohibits federal contractors from discriminating on the basis on sex, race and national origin in employment and also requires them to engage in “affirmative action.” President Trump’s order mandates the Attorney General and Secretary of Education to “issue joint guidance regarding the measures and practices required to comply with the Supreme Court’s decision in ‘Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard.”

“Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard” concluded that “while the original purpose of the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause was to ensure that laws apply equally to everyone, regardless of race, both the Supreme Court and the nation failed to uphold this principle … Any exceptions to equal protection must satisfy “strict scrutiny”; that is, the government must show that the racial classification serves a compelling interest and is narrowly tailored to achieve that interest.”

The case further states that “Harvard’s (and UNC’s, in the consolidated case) race-based admissions systems fail to meet the strict scrutiny, non-stereotyping, and termination criteria established by Grutter and Bakke. Specifically, the universities could not demonstrate their compelling interests in a measurable way, failed to avoid racial stereotypes, and did not offer a logical endpoint for when race-based admissions would cease. As a result, the programs violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.”

As a result of this executive order, many companies and universities have begun rolling back DEI policies.

Currently, the Trump Administration

is working on legislation to ban people who identify as transgender from enlisting in the military. Legal Director at the National Center for Lesbian Rights Shannon Minster — who sued the first Trump Administration over its transgender military ban — stated in response to the new proposed ban, “Transgender people are still with us and will continue to be part of our society. You can’t just disappear them with an executive order. So [Monday’s executive order] feels more like a sort of symbolic statement than an offer of any sort of concrete policy or guidance.”

President Trump enacted a slew of other executive orders regarding U.S. trade practices and tariffs. In his “America First Trade Policy,” President Trump reviews the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (“USCMA”) as well as other U.S. trade agreements, directing the U.S. Trade Representative to review and renegotiate or withdraw from the agreement. He also plans to impose a 25 percent tariff on products from Canada and Mexico starting on Feb.1.

The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) — designed to resettle refugees in the U.S. — was suspended by President Trump’s executive order, “Realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP).” President Trump claimed that “the United States lacks the ability to absorb large numbers of migrants, and in particular, refugees, into its communities in a manner that does not compromise the availability of resources for Americans, that protects their safety and security, and that ensures the appropriate assimilation of refugees. This order suspends the USRAP until such time as the further entry into the United States of refugees aligns with the interests of the United States.”

President Trump has initiated a slew of other policies regarding immigration, the environment, health and more in an attempt to roll back Biden-era policies he characterized as “disruptive, radical executive actions of the previous administration.”

opinions

Return of the biggest hypocrite on screen: President Donald Trump

PRESIDENT TRUMP’S SECOND INAUGURAL SPEECH HOLDS DARK PREMONITIONS FOR THE FUTURE OF AMERICA.

MATA ELANGOVAN Managing Editor

OnJan. 13, 2025, the United States (U.S.) witnessed President Donald J. Trump’s second Inaugural speech in which he promised an America that will be “greater, stronger and far more exceptional than ever before.”

For every promise he made in his speech, there lies a contradictory moment in the past. Here are the top five moments from his speech that made the American public want to break their television.

“Today is Martin Luther King Day, in his honor, this will be a great honor, but in his honor, we will strive to make his dream a reality, we will make his dream come true.”

Succeeding the opening lines of the “I Have a Dream Speech,” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. strongly proclaims, “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’”

To uphold the legacy of the great Civil Rights Activist Dr. King would mean supporting a U.S. social system where all people can stand on equal ground. President Trump has shown from his first administration that he has no intention of making that a reality.

In 2017, President Trump issued an executive order that established a Task Force on Crime Reduction and Public Safety to support law enforcement agencies locally and federally in combatting illegal immigration, drug trafficking and violent crime. Drug trafficking and violent crimes typically occur in lower income minority neighborhoods; as a result of this task force, and similar Trump Administration policies these communities are now facing even more over-policing and extreme racial profiling.

“All illegal entry will immediately be halted and we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came. We will reinstate my Remain in Mexico Policy.”

The Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) — more commonly known as the Remain in Mexico Policy — was instituted by President Trump in 2019. These protocols would bar admission to individuals who attempt to enter the United States (U.S.) from its southern border without proper documentation. Detained individuals would then be held in Mexico while they await their immigration hearings. Asylum seekers, fleeing from some of the most egregious human rights violations, should not be detained in the country that they are trying to escape.

In a country where land has been stolen from the Indigenous, nobody should be classified as “illegal.” President Trump — who self-identifies as Swedish — has been vocal about his stance on so-called “illegal” immigration since his first campaign for the presidency

in 2016.

Implementing the MPP has led those seeking asylum to experience life threatening and psychologically altering experiences that put them in “serious harm, including kidnapping, assault and family separation.” A statement provided by the Department of Homeland Security shared that “MPP had endemic flaws, imposed unjustifiable human costs, and pulled resources and personnel away from other priority efforts,” leading to their eventual termination in 2021 under the Biden administration.

Reimplementation of MPP would mean a return to the egregious human rights violations that take place at the border. According to Human Rights First, “there were at least 1,544 publicly documented cases of rape, kidnapping, assault, and other crimes committed against individuals sent back under MPP.” President Trump’s so-called “protection” of the southern border should not come at the expense of human rights and lives.

“WE WILL DRILL BABY DRILL. America will be a manufacturing nation once again and we have something that no other manufacturing nation will ever have: the largest amount of oil and gas of any country on Earth... With my actions today we will end the Green New Deal…”

As of 2024, Venezuela is the country with the largest oil reserves in the world, sitting at 303.22 billion barrels. The U.S. lags behind in tenth place with 68.8 billion barrels. Beyond mining the U.S. and its territories into oblivion, there is no feasible way to even catch up to Venezuela or any other country that focuses on managing its oil reserves, such as Saudi Arabia or Iran.

The Green New Deal is a resolution to move America to 100 percent clean and renewable energy. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, under the United Nations, shared that “global emissions must be cut by 40 to 60 percent by 2030” in order to create substantial change to limit global warming.

Pulling out of the Green New Deal and renewing efforts into oil production will be detrimental to the nation and the world. The U.S. is responsible for about 15 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. As one of the key contributors to climate change, this nation has a responsibility to address the consequences of their polluting actions and make amends to reverse the irreparable damage being made to the environment.

“My Administration will establish the brand new Department of Government Efficiency. After years and years of illegal and unconstitutional Federal efforts to restrict free expression, I will also sign an executive order to immediately stop all government censorship and bring back free speech to America.”

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is established under the basis of “modernizing Federal technology and software to maximize governmental efficiency and productivity.” When President Trump first

announced the creation of DOGE, he declared it would “provide advice and guidance from outside of government” and would be headed by Tesla CEO Elon Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. With Ramaswamy bowing out to run for governor of Ohio, Musk will be the sole head of DOGE — a bold move to be made considering Musk’s recent Nazi salute.

As the richest man in the world, Elon Musk holds a substantial amount of influence in any field he steps into. Leading businesses such as SpaceX, Tesla Motors and X, he has his hands in a variety of profitable expenditures.

When Musk bought out Twitter, he claimed, “I invested in Twitter as I believe in its potential to be the platform for free speech around the globe, and I believe free speech is a societal imperative for a functioning democracy.” A crazy statement to be made when X quietly removed hate conduct policy which explicitly protected transgender people from deadnaming and misgendering online. Free speech is not conducive to a functioning democracy when it comes at the expense of hate speech and fear mongering.

“I will also end the government policy of trying to socially engineer race and gender into every aspect of public and private life. We will forge a society that is colorblind and merit-based. As of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders: male and female.”

This is the beginning of the end for diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in the U.S. In a nation haunted by its colonial past and with deep-rooted systemic racism, the implementation of a colorblind system only seeks to further disadvantage minorities. By ignoring the past, it sets precedent for repeat offenses in the future.

College enrollment rates after the end of Affirmative Action reveal that admittance of Black and Hispanic students faced its largest annual drop since 2010. In a system that prioritizes education for a chance at social mobility, it is a must to be race-conscious in various aspects of life.

The whole gender debate is also a fancy way for President Trump to spread his anti-trans agenda. While the designation of sex is an externally imposed signifier placed upon individuals by medical professionals, gender is more of a performance and expression of self. Under President Trump, government agencies will require official documents to “accurately reflect the holder’s sex” and will “no longer promote gender ideology” through the usage of their funds.

President Trump’s insistence on reversing these protections means significant strides backwards for progress in free speech and demonstration of self. Characterized as a bastion of freedom, regular infringements on the rights and liberties of the American public seems to be the reigning policy of the new administration.

TikTok only went dark to create a Trump praising publicity stunt

FOLLOWING THE TURNAROUND

OF

TRUMP’S

PUBLIC OPINION ON TIKTOK, HE NOW HAS EVERY MAJOR SOCIAL MEDIA CEO ON HIS SIDE.

ALEX KUPISIEWICZ

Contributing Writer

TikTok is one of the most popular social media apps today, ranking just below Meta’s platforms, Facebook and Instagram, on number of downloads as of March 2024. Despite the app’s popularity, public opinion varies widely about TikTok.

In March 2023, 61 percent of people favored a ban on the app. However, 232.14 million users downloaded the app within that financial quarter and TikTok influencers lobbied in Washington, D.C. against the ban last December. In the middle of the mixed opinions and arguments, newly inaugurated President Trump switched his stance from wanting to ban the app in 2021 to embracing the CEO at his inauguration.

In July of 2020, President Trump openly supported a TikTok ban as a way to “retaliate against China” for the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. Trump’s comments also follow a rally disaster where younger users on TikTok reserved seats at his rally with no intention of attending. It resulted in nearly no attendance to what originally looked like a booked out event.

Along with this attack on President Trump’s ego, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Chris Wray cited national security concerns about control over the app’s recommendation algorithm and its potential use for “influence operations,” including manipulating algorithms to interfere with Americans’ public opinion.

The leading concern about the ByteDance owned social media company — a Chinese company — is the possibility that the app’s United States (U.S.) user data has been shared with the Chinese government. However, TikTok’s Chief Operating Officer Vanessa Pappas, made a statement that they would “never share data with government officials.”

TikTok wasn’t the only app to go dark on Jan. 18 as several other lesser-known apps, such as CapCut, Lemon8, and Lark, are no longer available in app stores or have ceased operation within the U.S. entirely. Meanwhile, other popular Chinese owned apps — like Temu and Shein — still remain active.

Most notably, in the wake of this potentially indefinite TikTok ban, the Chinese app, RedNote — otherwise known as Xiaohongshu or “Little Red Book” — has won over many previous TikTok users. With short form videos and a similar e-commerce platform, RedNote functions largely the same way as TikTok. Although the app is Chinese-owned and headquartered in Shanghai, the platform was not

included in the national ban.

The fact that Shein and Temu, along with RedNote, are still functioning in the U.S. raises questions about the true intention of the TikTok ban. These ecommerce apps have the capability to collect the same information TikTok can and are subject to the same laws as ByteDance, yet they still exist in the U.S.

Over recent years, TikTok has become a hub for sharing information outside of news media sources, which means word can spread fast around the world. News media outlets are far easier to control and censor than individuals on social media platforms. The banning of TikTok makes it clear that the government is really trying to stop the power of a social platform operated outside of the U.S.

As the threat of a TikTok ban became more real, Trump unexpectedly switched sides during his last election campaign. In June of 2024, he joined TikTok with a personal account to campaign on the platform, shortly after his opponent, former Vice President Kamala Harris, joined the platform.

When the app went dark, a surprising message was shared the night before the ban went into effect that read, “We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office.” The app was later down in the U.S. for only 14 hours before it returned with a message attributing credit to Trump, “As a result of President Trump’s efforts, TikTok is back in the U.S.!”

This unprofessional popup notification mirrors many of the self-praising egoistic comments Trump has made himself, making it clear that this was nothing but an attempt by the company to get close with the PresidentElect.

Staging himself as the savior of TikTok, President Trump hopes to gain the favor of the 34.8 percent of TikTok users aged 18 to 24 and 51 percent of voters aged 18 to 29 who voted for Former Vice President Harris. This means that the age demographic that holds Harris’ largest lead is over a third of the users on TikTok.

In addition to these messages, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew also posted a video on the platform thanking President Trump personally “on behalf of TikTok and all our users across the country” for “his commitment to work with us to find a solution that keeps TikTok available

in the United States.” All of this — the ban and TikTok’s messages thanking Trump — happened before his actual inauguration.

But, Chew isn’t the only giant tech CEO falling in line with President Trump. This theatrical gratitude towards the President comes hot on the heels of other tech CEOs, including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and X CEO Elon Musk, supporting President Trump despite having distanced themselves from him upon his first presidential win in 2016.

In 2016, Facebook — now known as Meta — began an effort to counteract misinformation in direct response to worries that online hoaxes had contributed to President Trump’s first presidential victory. Just recently, however, this fact-checking program was abandoned altogether. Now, with the President’s newfound relationship with Chew, Trump has every major social media CEO in his pocket upon the beginning of his second term.

With a Republican House and Senate majority, the oversized influence of social media platforms is just one more thing to worry about. Despite the facade of content creation and recommendations being “user run,” social media companies have majority control over algorithm changes and removal or hiding of content. With every major platform’s CEO catering to Trump, the possibility of censorship and First Amendment violations is a serious concern. ■ H

GRAPHIC BY HENYA DADEM

LAYNA LAPIKAS // THE HIGHLANDER

UCR students weigh in on the TikTok ban debate

AS ANOTHER TIKTOK BAN LOOMS, UCR STUDENTS SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE CONTROVERSIAL SOCIAL MEDIA APP.

Compiled by: Cecile Diroll, Opinions Editor & Spandana Janapati, Asst. Opinions Editor

On Jan. 18, 2025, TikTok briefly went dark in the United States (U.S.) after the Supreme Court upheld a law banning the platform. Unless ByteDance — the Chinese parent company — sells to an American tech company, the app may face a permanent ban. With a message asking users to “stay tuned,” TikTok returned in less than 12 hours and thanked President Trump for his “efforts” to restore the app. After his inauguration, the President

signed an executive order granting TikTok a 75-day extension. While TikTok’s future is still unknown, The Highlander wanted to speak with the University of California, Riverside (UCR) students about their experience on the divisive social media platform and whether they think the national ban is justified.

Do you think a TikTok ban is justified for national security reasons? Why or why not?

There’s a lot of other companies that steal our data. We use a lot of other Chinese owned apps so either way [the TikTok suspension] would have been one drop in the bucket for national security. There are still all the other companies, even American-owned companies, that take our data. I think the ban was more to get a rise out of defeating the CCP [Chinese Communist Party] from taking our data.”

I think closing down TikTok for national security’s sake makes sense. These companies track consumer data through technology. Right now, it’s AI, from what I know. My information is just as limited as yours — which is just the news. So [according to] the news, America and China are fighting over the development of AI, especially right now … I think they are trying to battle the information saturation in the market and make sure data from America is not going to be leaked outside.”

As for TikTok being a national security threat, if officials still believe that then they should investigate it more thoroughly and they should also come up with a conclusion according to that. If they find that it is a national security concern, then obviously shut it down. If it’s not, then continue to let TikTok run.”

How would a TikTok ban affect your daily social media habits?

Fortunately or unfortunately, I don’t actually use TikTok so it wouldn’t really affect me. But I have seen all of my friends freaking out about the ban because they use TikTok all the time. So I guess it affects me in the way that it affects my friends. I’m more of an outsider seeing what their world looks like and it just reminds me of how much social media has changed and how much it has a hold on this generation.”

Do you see TikTok as just an

I think a TikTok ban would make me go on social media less. Before the ban, I had taken a break from Instagram so I was mostly on TikTok. Because of that, I feel like I would spend less time on TikTok and focus more on other things, maybe hobbies, instead of social media.”

I think the TikTok ban would affect my social media habits by actually keeping me off social media a lot more. I was kind of for the ban because I knew it would make me focus more on my other priorities. Then again, I am also kind of addicted to TikTok … There’s pros and cons to it but overall it would keep me off my phone more.”

I see it as both entertainment and having broader societal impacts. It just depends on how seriously you take in the information you are seeing and if you research beyond what you see on TikTok.”

I feel like it is both just because there was some stuff I wasn’t aware of that TikTok kind of showed me. That just comes down to how you build your For You Page [FYP]. I feel like it’s a helpful way to get information about issues right now. Especially because a lot of people tend to use social media for that, so it’s a good way to advocate.” ■ H

I believe TikTok is mainly used for entertainment purposes. Most of the people I see around me use it when they are on a break, when they don’t have anything to do or to distract their mind from what’s going on in the real world. So I feel like it truly is for entertainment purposes and just a way to escape reality.”

Adelia Urena, Art, Second year (she/her)

Harmanpreet Singh, Biology, Second year (he/him)

Pinkie Ha, Political Science & International Affairs and Economics, Fourth year (she/her)

Jade Arayata, Cell, Molecular, and Development Biology, Second year (she/her)

Sonia Oluoch, Political Science & International Affairs, Fourth year (she/her)

Yadhira Dorado, Political Science, First year (she/her)

Emelly Munoz, Liberal Studies, Fourth year (she/her)

Julie Sanchez, Political Science, Third year (she/her)

Vaneesha Singh, Computer Science with Business Applications, Fourth year (she/her)

Write-off: A love letter to January

IT’S THE FIRST MONTH OF THE YEAR AND IT CAN ONLY GO DOWNHILL FROM HERE.

SENNA OMAR Editor-in-Chief

January — filled with expectations and failed New Year’s resolutions — has gained a reputation as one of the worst months of the year. This 31-day adventure with its supposedly cold, boring days filled with expectations is seriously slept on. Justice for January!

Ringing in the New Year from the safety and security of my bed, I know that January will keep me warm. As the first month of the year, January sets expectations for the whole year. Filling this fake month — existing outside the principles of modern time — with rest and rejuvenation will position 2025 as the year of “putting me first.”

The hours of self care over my sink and endless episodes of the three G’s — “Gilmore Girls,” “Gossip Girl” and “Grey’s Anatomy” — watched on repeat make me fall deeper in love with this divine pause in time.

January is literally the only month where doing nothing is encouraged — so sit around, enjoy life and spend the month in bed. As the perfect happy marriage between cozy winter weather and rest, January is the month of rejuvenation and a break from real life.

Setting the precedent for further months of the year, after January, it can only go downhill from here. This month is full of new beginnings and fresh starts, allowing people to wipe the slate of last year clean and dive into the new one fresh.

According to a poll by YouGov, January is statistically America’s least favorite month, while the month before, December, is America’s favorite. This ranking by the American public is simply an issue of bad press — January needs some positive publicity.

This month of no expectations and new beginnings offers a snow

covered haze of life in the new year. For the whole month of January, it’s acceptable to write out last year’s date on paper and live in a delusion that the new year has not truly begun.

In the backdrop of the holiday season, January is the socially dead month. People are tired of partying and simply need a break from the hustle and bustle of communicating with society. January is the month to hermit up, in bed away from everyone, relaxing and rejuvenating from whatever horror show the year before was and preparing for the emotional whirlwind of the next one.

Situated perfectly between Christmas and Valentine’s Day, January not only offers a break from life, but a break for one’s bank account. According to a 2024 poll, American shoppers spent between $979.5 to $989 billion on holiday shopping, marking a record high for holiday spending. This culminated in an average of $1,000 spent per American on holiday gifts. January is a much needed pause to the consumer madness that continues into February.

Valentine’s Day consumerism — although less extravagant than the December display — still takes its toll on the American wallet. In 2024 Americans spent $25.8 billion on Valentine’s Day. With everyone left broke from the holidays, this month is for saving money. If people do not save their cheddar, they won’t be able to spend money on loved ones.

I know that when the bright orange star in the sky sets right at the crisp 5 p.m. slot that winter has come. With the winter sunsets shining through the window, casting a “Twilight” colored haze over our eyes, this beginning month is truly the best in the whole year.

Write-off: New beginnings don’t exist

THE ENDLESSNESS OF JANUARY WILL HAVE YOU QUESTIONING WHAT IS AND ISN’T WORTH ENDURING.

SPANDANA JANAPATI Assistant Opinions Editor

January has always been my least favorite month. It presents the illusion of a clean slate, only to leave you alone with all your mistakes. Everyone wants to act like it’s a fresh start, but for me, it’s a month-long reminder of everything I haven’t fixed and all the ways I’m still the same person I was last year. This January has been nothing but a grim reminder of every bad decision from the past year — and every single one I’m already making again.

This year started with resolutions, as it always does. I told myself I’d spend less time on my phone, read more books and practice discipline with better habits like journaling. I even set up a screen time limit on my phone, thinking it would hold me accountable for the hours I waste on Instagram and TikTok. But by Jan. 2, I was already hitting “Ignore for Today” like it was second nature. Instead of journaling, I spent hours scrolling through my Pinterest feed, adding sad quotes to my numerous boards. It was easier than having to write about my feelings.

All the books on my to be read (TBR) list were ignored for mindlessly watching movies. I’ve powered through so many that my 2025 Letterboxd end-of-year review will be incredible. This doesn’t change the fact that my brain feels static and empty.

The days in January feel infinite, but somehow it feels like the month is slipping away, leaving me with a heavy dread about time wasted. I’ve spent more mornings than I’d like to admit lying in bed, scrolling through social media, and ignoring the pile of school work or job-searching I promised myself I would complete. The worst part is the sense of inevitability, as if every small mistake now is setting me up for yet another lackluster and boring year filled with the same problems.

On top of everything else, current events have done little to inspire

any optimism for the future. The effects of the Trump Administration’s immigration policies remain deeply concerning. Ending birthright citizenship, harsh treatment of asylum seekers and the continued crisis in the U.S.-Mexico border are reminders of systemic issues that have only gotten worse with a new year. The trend is likely to continue as President Trump continues to fill his cabinet by nominating individuals like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. who has a history of anti-vaccine advocacy.

All these unresolved problems combined with the new year’s challenges take away any sense of renewal that January could offer. The personal and global problems this year feel intertwined in the worst way. I can’t escape the pressure to be productive or to embrace some illusion of a “new beginning.” And instead of making any progress, I’m stuck in a loop of avoidance. I know my last two quarters at UCR are supposed to be a time for preparation and reflection. My schedule is easier than it’s ever been, yet I can’t bring myself to do anything meaningful with all this time. I’ve spent more hours doom-scrolling and wallowing than actually preparing for the massive changes I’ll face this year.

Rather than a “fresh start,” January feels like a magnifying glass, showing me all the flaws I’ve been avoiding. Every decision and every moment of procrastination feels like a step backward. It’s a month filled with poorly concealed regret and the crushing weight of unmet expectations.

For me, January isn’t the beginning of something new. It’s a confrontation with the worst parts of myself and the world, an endless loop where all I can do is hope that February might break that endless loop. Until then, I’ll probably stay in bed, watching time pass and trying to figure out how to make it through this month without losing my mind. ■ H

COURTESY OF FREEPIK

Scotty-Scopes:

Strengths and weaknesses

Libra (Sept. 23 – Oct. 22): Nine of Swords

Releasing worries through healthy methods is one of your stronger suits. But it takes more than a few deep breaths to really settle any deep seated fears you may have.

Capricorn (Dec. 22 – Jan. 19): The High Priestess

Don’t make yourself silent this week, Capricorn. Withdrawal is not your friend, so push yourself to reach out to your real friends this week.

Aries (March 21 – April 19): Five of Pentacles

You’re recovering well from financial loss and bouncing back; but you’re not carrying a mindset that’s rooted in what you lack.

Cancer (June 21 – July 22): Six of Wands

Cancer, you’re going through a very successful period of your life — congrats! But don’t let other people’s idea of what success is influence yours.

WHAT YOU’RE SOLID ON IN COMPARISON TO WHAT YOU NEED TO WORK ON THIS WEEK.

Scorpio (Oct. 23 – Nov. 21): The Well

Your nurturing energy helps keep those around you feel cared for; but take the time to pamper yourself or else you’ll burn out quickly.

Aquarius (Jan. 20 – Feb. 18): Page of Pentacles

You’re great at learning from your failure and not making the same mistakes over again. But you need to work thinking critically enough and working harder to not have those mistakes happen in the first place.

Taurus (April 20 – May 20): Four of Pentacles

Saving money is a smart investment in the long term. But you are making yourself suffer unnecessarily in the short term, so let yourself spend a little more for convenience this week.

Leo (July 23 – Aug. 22): Judgement

You’ve found your inner calling and you’re chasing it. But don’t let your inner critic trick you into thinking you can’t achieve what you want.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 – Dec. 21): Ten of Pentacles

Financial security is the name of the game for you, Sagittarius. But remember that there is a dark side to wealth and wealth is not what matters most.

Pisces (Feb. 19 – March 20): The Sun

Pisces, your positivity is contagious. But while your warmth and fun are appreciated, don’t be overly optimistic and miss the opportunity to be realistic occasionally.

Gemini (May 21 – June 20): Eight of Cups

Escapism is your strong suit; lots of people are envious of your ability to daydream. But aimlessly drifting through your days is not how you want to spend your life.

Virgo (Aug. 23 – Sept. 22):

You’ve found your inner calling and you’re chasing it. But don’t let your inner critic trick you into thinking you can’t achieve what you want.

The Tower

DAHL Features Editor

In 2025, fulfill your New Year’s resolutions

THE SECRET TO TURNING YOUR YEARLY GOALS INTO HABITS.

NOLA PERIFEL Staff Writer

New Year’s resolutions are hard to keep. They usually never turn into a habit — here are the best ways to keep up with them.

Choose one realistic and precise goal:

When choosing New Year’s resolutions, it is important for people to set their sights on goals that are easy to stick to. By embarking on a resolution that truly motivates you, you are more likely to realistically achieve your New Years plans. For some people, it may be too time-consuming and hard to try to learn one new thing every day. Instead, these people should focus on little goals; keeping their sight on one commitment until it is fully achieved.

Turn your resolution into a habit:

If you give yourself enough time during the day to put your resolution to practice, the repetition of the action will lead to a habit. People who tend to give up early on their resolutions typically do not factor their goals into their day-to-day schedule. To succeed with plans such as going to the gym four times a week, stick to the same routine, at the same scheduled times, every week. By turning your plan into a habit, you will have

successfully fulfilled your New Year’s resolution. Make sure to write down your prog ress in a journal or with an app, so you can make a habit out of checking your achievements off of a daily checklist.

Understand your resolution:

In order to fulfil your resolution you must first understand your “why” for choosing them. The gym is usually a very popular choice but saying that you want to go to the gym isn’t enough. Instead, try understanding your motivations — whether it be building muscle, staying fit and healthy or losing weight — to help you stay motivated.

Remembering to practice:

Remembering to practice your resolutions can be the most difficult part of keeping up with the commitment. The best way to reinforce your new habit is by having a physical reminder of the goal. This could be as simple as a post-it note with a motivational quote or a small object that you associate with your new goal. The easiest way to refamiliarize yourself with this goal is to set a reminder on your phone or use a memorable screensaver.

By following these simple steps, you will be one step closer to fulfilling your New Year’s resolutions.

NORM’S NOOK

SPOTLIGHT

Robert and Elizabeth Lang Memorial Garden

GABRIELA GALVAN Assistant Features Editor

The obscurity of this place will sweep you in, the serene ambiance will make you want to stay. The University of California, Riverside (UCR) isn’t shy of any beauty. It takes pride in its prime location just near the Box Springs Mountains; its lush greenery, bountiful gardens and overall sunny climate make this the perfect location. While some of these beauty landmarks are obvious at UCR, this secret wonder is hidden in plain sight! The Robert and Elizabeth Lang Memorial Garden is just the place for a piece of UCR charm and

tranquility. Dedicated to retired and esteemed UCR librarians, Robert and Elizabeth Lang, the garden recognizes their priceless contributions to the campus. The garden itself is located between Life Sciences 1500 and Tomás Rivera Library and is hidden behind a red brick wall, inviting you in with a short pavement trail bordered by shrubbery. The Picnic benches canopied by trees and access to Rivera Library allows for a quiet study location! If you’re looking for a relaxing spot, check out this hidden gem!

STUDENT POLL

QUESTION: Who will you ask to be your valentine this year?

Answer our weekly question on the Highlander Instagram for the opportunity to get featured in the next issue!

I’ll ask Joey S.

I’m asking Oscar P.

My Besties.

I’m asking Luis to be my valentine

Scotty the Bear

GG.

Allie F.

Brianna B.

Sanjana T.

Joaquin G.

Mata E.

Feras M.

NEORAH DAVIS / THE HIGHLANDER

GRAPHICS BY LAYNA LAPIKAS / THE HIGHLANDER

SPICE UP YOUR LIFE!

Geologic time period

Point in the right direction?

____s’ Rebellion

Disney World transport

Knock-off version

Egyptian falcon god Horus or _____

Small Spice?

Suffix with symbi-

Make giddy 19. No longer fresh, like chips

She loved Narcissus

State slang for weird, bad, or cringe

Poker prize 25. A debauched man, espe-

cially an elderly one

27. Decide to leave, with “out”

29. Customer, to a software engineer

30. Mudbath locale

31. Dracula, at times

34. Spice Spice?

37. Slang for extremely good

38. ___-Wan Kenobi

39. Six sided state

40. Lump, blob, or chunk of something

41. Person, place, or thing

42. Play the part

43. Coloratura’s piece

45. Athletic Spice?

47. Density symbol

48. Game piece

By Natalie Features

72. Make a mistake

49. Facial expression with a large lower lip

50. Well-put

51. Dance partner?

52. Priestly garb

55. Got grayer

58. Gray tape

60. Country of Pago Pago

62. Country of Kolkata

64. California wine valley

66. Fancy Spice?

67. Carpentry grooves

68. Make a mistake

69. Haggis ingredient

70. Brit’s “Nonsense!”

71. ___ and terminer (criminal court term meaning to hear and determine)

Down

1. Muse of love poetry

2. Morocco’s capital

3. ___ nitrate, used to treat heart disease and cyanide poisoning

4. Old name for Tokyo

5. Filmmaker with total creative control

6. _____ Girls

7. Georgia ___

8. “Thar ___ blows!”

9. Spartan serf

10. “Mother” in Chinese

11. Abominable Snowman

12. Recipe abbr.

15. “The Matrix” hero

ANSWERS (DON’T PEEK!)

20. Scottish Gaelic

22. Klutz’s cry

26. “___ the land of the free ...”

28. Faux ___

29. “Bleah!”

30. Stand in

31. Crude dude

32. Be next to or have a common boundary with

33. Bite-sized

34. Gum-producing plant

35. Mosquito bite symptom

36. Cold war winner

37. Feathery neckwear

40. Band booking

41. “___ a chance”

43. Appetizer abbreviation

44. Abbr. after many a

general’s name

45. Prince, to a king

46. Wrinkly-faced pooches

49. Entree with a crust

50. “See ya!”

51. Frightening Spice?

52. French romance

53. Short-straw drawer

54. Thai currency

55. First ___

56. Buzzing pest

57. Vegetable closely related to taro

59. “Do ___ others as...”

61. Church semicircular alcove, usually containing the altar

63. ___ Wednesday

■ H

65. Spring mo.

COURTESY OF WORDPRESS

Country music recommendations for sweater season

Keep an open mind and look past your preconceived notions of the genre by adding some country music to your cold weather playlist.

By: Stela Noelle Abasta, Contributing Writer

There have been too many times to count where somebody says that they “listen to all music except for country” when asked their favorite genre of music. However, when hearing that, one cannot help but wonder if they have that opinion because they’ve only heard — what artist Bo Burnham calls — “stadium country.”

“Stadium country” is the type of country music that panders towards radio listeners and Grammys voters — the kind of country that doesn’t feel like it has any real heart in it. To combat that skewed perspective, here is a list of some personal favorite country songs that are far from “stadium country” and might even make someone reconsider their distaste for the genre.

“Wondering Why” by The Red Clay Strays

If one is starting slow and just looking to dip their feet into the genre, look no further than this fanfavorite. This is the perfectly sweet song to post “the one” to — listen to while fantasizing about slow-dancing with a crush, or even play at a wedding reception. It’s not corny, so listeners don’t have to worry about cringing when listening to it. The track tells the story of someone “wondering why” their partner keeps loving them, hence the name. In a Billboard article, harmonicist/ guitarist/vocalist Drew Nix shares, “We were like, ‘Our women have the short end of the stick of this. I wonder why they even like us.’”

The number starts with soft

singing framed by a simple progression of chords being played on an electric guitar before the drum and bass kick in. Every part of the track slots perfectly together to create a beautiful and catchy melody, and the romantic lyrics only add to the swoon worthy sounds of the song. If the listener has ever just felt like they’re the luckiest person in the world when they’re with their lover, this is the song to listen to.

“Fire in the Sky” by The Ghost of Paul Revere

This is the kind of song that listeners can’t help blowing their speakers out to— this is the kind of song that everyone just has to blast on full volume. This is another track if one is looking to ease themselves into the genre of country. Listeners will definitely find an appreciation for the surprisingly smooth sounds of the harmonica if they hadn’t

previously. The singer’s powerful voice adds to the strong strums of the acoustic guitar. The acapella ends the number nicely, leaving listeners with an ominous feeling, similar to the alien story the song was likely based off of.

“Diamondhead” by J.R. Caroll

Better known as a member of Zach Bryan’s band, Caroll makes a name for himself as a great artist with subjectively better music that separates him from the bigger name overshadowing him. Backed by a full band, Caroll sings a love song about following his partner in everything. The fast-pace makes listeners want to get up and dance.

“Little White Lies (feat. Joshua Quimby)” by Liam St. John

A head-bopping number, this tune reminds listeners of what’s at the very core of country — a guitar and

a good voice. In this case, it’s two guitars, because the singer is accompanied by fellow country artist Joshua Quimby on his guitar. Quimby is the man behind the lively guitar solo halfway through the song. Liam St. John’s music shows listeners what it’s like to hear good country songs — and how they don’t need another industry plant for that.

“Long Green Cigarette” by Joshua Quimby Now, if listeners are not afraid of trying out a new kind of sound, this song is one that will get them stomping their imaginary cowboy boots to the rhythm. Quimby has a voice unlike any other — it’s gritty and raw and so incredibly country. Despite Quimby’s voice taking the center spotlight in this track, the guitar is a close second, with the constant strums of the acoustic framing the high pitched

chords from the electric nicely. A great songwriter tells stories through their lyrics, and Quimby definitely tells a story with this track through his expressive lyrics. Whether or not the listener likes country music, they can’t help but admit that this is quite a catchy tune.

If these songs aren’t able to convince anybody that there are genuine bangers hidden within the country music genre, then nothing will. Hopefully horizons were still expanded and more people can acknowledge that country music is more than the moneygrabbing, attention-seeking songs people make it out to be.

■ H

Courtesy of Joshua Quimby

Nintendo’s next big handheld gaming console

CONTINUING THE NINTENDO SWITCH FRANCHISE, NINTENDO PLANS TO RELEASE THE SWITCH 2.

Seven years after its initial release on March 3, 2017, the Nintendo Switch announced its successor, the Switch 2. This has led to mixed reception to many long-standing fans of the company. While some fans are over the moon for the new console, many felt unimpressed, sharing their disappointment in the design.

From the teaser, the only observable difference to the average viewer is the change in screen size; the Switch 2 boasts a bigger screen and an easter egg for a new Mario Kart game. The handheldhybrid looks more like a recolor-upgrade of the original than the next big thing. Nintendo has a history of doing this. From the release of the new Nintendo 3DS, which had minimal updates from the original 3DS, to the Nintendo OLED Switch, which compared to the Nintendo Switch, simply came with a more sleek look and bigger screen.

The biggest hope that consumers of the Nintendo Switch have is that this new console will come with new controllers, fixing the “controller drift” issue. Controller drift is when dust gets underneath the thumbstick and causes misinputs. Unfortunately, the Switch is currently falling behind most video game controllers on the market.

Rather than sliding the Joy-Con controller, the trailer for the Switch 2 shows a new snap and lock controller. Additionally, the right Joy-con infrared (IR) sensor — responsible for sensing how far away objects were using infrared light — was removed. On the original Nintendo Switch console, in videogames like “RingFit Adventure,” users could sense their heart rate. This feature was replaced by an optical sensor on the inside of the controller, allowing the new Joy-

Cons to act like a computer mouse. A new blank square button with an unknown purpose and a new charging port at the bottom were also added to the console.

There were several weak points within the frame of the old system. One of the major concerns with the original Switch was the kickstand — this thin, flimsy rectangle was susceptible to snapping off with the slightest pressure. Fixed in the OLED model, the Switch 2 has the potential to have a similar issue as it reverts to the thin rectangle stand that the original Switch has. Additionally, the way the new Joy-cons “snap” and lock onto the console is a point of concern. The original model’s sliding Joy-cons featured grooves that would hold it in place on the console which are not present in the Nintendo Switch 2.

Prior to the official announcement, many voiced disappointment after a first look at the Nintendo Switch 2 mockup went online. Genki, a video game accessory company, leaked details about the console and controllers. Genki showcased this 3D-printed model at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) to the public in the fourth quarter of 2024. In response to this breach of confidentiality, Nintendo has threatened Genki with legal action.

In the last 30 seconds of the teaser video, Nintendo announced a Nintendo Direct — a 30 to 60 minute showcase on new games, hardware and systems — set to take place on April 2, 2025. Gaming fans should look forward to some new games releasing near or at the same time as the Switch 2.

For the first time in 10 years, Nintendo is releasing a new Mario Kart game. Debuting on the Nintendo Switch with “Mario Kart 8 deluxe” on April 28, 2017, this new adaptation of this classic fan favorite game was shown off in the Switch 2 teaser trailer. 24 race lines were shown in the teaser, which hints to 24 player online races — in previous renditions of this game, only 12 players online races were possible.

Originally teased in 2024, “Pokémon Legends: Z-A” is a spin-off Pokemon game taking place in the Kalos region seen in “Pokémon XY.” This follow-up to the critically acclaimed “Pokémon Legends: Arceus” draws comparisons to the Monster Hunter Franchise. However, “ZA” mixes up the formula a bit. Rather than focusing on survival aspects, the main character is now a creator, specifically a city architect, tasked with building the famous Lumiose City. No further information has been released as of yet, but the game is hinted to arrive in stores in 2025.

“Metroid Prime 4 Beyond” was first teased in 2015 for the Wii U and then covered in a Nintendo Direct in 2017. Many fans were left wondering when this beloved title would be released, until Nintendo released a Nintendo Direct in June finally showcasing the game. It will be a first-person shooter game with some puzzle elements, where players such as Samsus are tasked with defeating the alien metroids.

With the drop of the Switch 2 and revamp of the classic Mario Kart franchise, Nintendo begins a new era of gaming. Consumers everywhere are excited to test out the new products this gaming franchise tycoon has to offer.

PAUL LEWIS III

Production Assistant

‘Wolf Man’ serves more of the same for January horror

A new reincarnation of the beloved monster classic leaves much to be desired.

By: Sebastian Morales, Contributing Writer

Every new year presents the opportunity for new beginnings — the opportunity for people to correct the mishaps of the year prior and build their new self. From a film standpoint, the new year means a slurry of new horror releases all throughout the year. Released in theaters on Jan. 17, Leigh Whannel’s “Wolf Man,” a modern interpretation on the classic werewolf story, is just the sort of horror film to begin the year with.

After his success with “The Invisible Man” — a modernized twist on the classic monster movie — Whannel garnered much acclaim for his nuanced and realistic depiction of what a modern-day invisible man could look like. Touching on themes of abuse and trauma, the extreme success of this film has lofty expectations for Whannel’s next horror release.

Following Blake (Christopher Abbott), his wife Charlotte (Julia Garner) and their child Ginger (Matilda Firth), “Wolf Man” tells the story of a couple attempting to reconcile their marital and parental shortcomings by taking a trip to the Oregon countryside. Grieving the recent loss of Blake's father, the family travels back to stay at Blake’s childhood home. Upon their arrival, they are quickly attacked by a local beast who infects Blake with a body-altering disease that quickly endangers the livelihood of his family through the long night.

Whannel loves to interject relatable themes within his films so that the audience can become emotionally invested in its protagonists; “Wolf Man” is no different. “Wolf Man,” uses the transformation from man to werewolf as an allegory for

generational trauma passed through the patriarchy. In Blake’s case, it illustrates how some boys grow up to be the very monsters that they had feared in their youth, inflicting the same damage they feared to their own families.

The film begins with a traumatic hunting sequence between Blake and his father where they encounter the local, mystic werewolf that his father became obsessed with. This introduction illustrates how long this fatherly relationship troubled Blake, represented by a 30year jump to the present, where his trauma is still unresolved.

Interestingly, the film welds traditional tropes with new imaginings. The werewolf transformation within “Wolf Man” is altered from the “on a full moon night” sequence to the concept of a viral infection consuming the protagonist. In Blake’s transformation from struggling father to violent monster, the film pays homage to well-known body horror staples, such as David Cronenberg’s 1986 film “The Fly” or John Carpenter’s 1982 film “The Thing.”

This body-horror influence was an intriguing aspect of the film but disappointing overall since it never fully commits itself to getting as freaky and nasty as eager fans hoped it to be.

The comparison between becoming a werewolf and traumatic fatherly relationships becomes eye-rollingly blatant at the point where the beast who attacked Blake is revealed to be Blake’s father all along. While Blake’s father is supposed to be a figurative representation of parents being their children’s greatest monsters — he le-

gitimately transforms into one — and terrorizes Blake after his supposed death. This portrayal is akin to how parents, long after they are gone, continue to haunt their children.

As relatable as this allegory may be, “Wolf Man” lacks trust in its audience to pick up the themes for themselves without needing to be spoon-fed answers, almost insulting the audience's intellect at times. The film is entrenched with questionable decisions made by its protagonists. It never decides to

subtly convey its motif of generational trauma, nor the complicated drama between Blake, his family and his father, through nuanced dialogue in its characters or visuals. Which never allows the audience to feel the gravity of their dilemmas in the way Whannel insists that they do.

Verdict: “Wolf Man” offers something new for werewolf fans to digest with its modernized and humanistic depiction of man-turned-wild. Unfortunately, that is about as much as the film offers, as avid horror fans may wish they were challenged with more to maul over by the time the credits end.

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

Experience ‘Se7en’ like never before with the new 4K remaster playing only in IMAX

David Fincher's chilling 1995 thriller has been restored to bring every grim detail and atmospheric shot to life on the massive screen.

By: Joseph Arriaga, Contributing Writer

Debuting in theaters in 1995, “Se7en” is a film that has left a lasting impact on audiences since. With stellar performances by Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt, who play detectives trying to hunt down a serial killer that selects his victims based on the seven deadly sins — this film was restored in 4k.

Under director David Fincher's supervision, after 30 years, this dark and gripping thriller can be experienced in theaters for a limited time only in Image MAXimum (IMAX). The new remaster doesn’t just enhance the visuals, but also the film’s audio, transforming the experience to feel as impactful and disturbing

as its original theatrical release back in 1995.

Compared to the original version, the clear and detailed image quality displays a noticeable change. “Se7en” is recognized for its color scheme and gritty city setting that evokes a sense of dread and misery. The remaster maintains the film's visual style but enhances it by refining each frame to highlight things that might have gone previously unnoticed.

The rundown city, drenched in rain, casts an atmosphere over the two detectives — Somerset (Morgan Freeman) and Mills (Brad Pitt) — the interplay of light and shadow in every frame

create a sense of immersion that draws the audience in. As one of his earlier films, “Se7en” served as the foundation for director David Fincher’s iconic directing style. His unmistakable movie color palettes are recognizable in his later films “Fight Club,” “The Social Network” and “The Killer.”

The remaster truly shines on the IMAX screen, and its impact is felt throughout the film’s runtime. The heavy atmosphere depicted through its streets and gloomy interiors feel disturbing and even unsettling at times. There are times in this film where it looks as if it were shot in the modern day.

The IMAX format also greatly enhances the setting of the film in a significant way. “Se7en” has

“Emilia Pérez” performative portrayal of the trans experience is clearly Oscar bait

With 13 Oscar nominations, this film's cisgendered perspective on the trans experience missed the mark.

By: Mata Elangovan, Managing Editor

Directed by French filmmaker Jacques Audiard, the cartel-gangster musical “Emilia Pérez” has garnered a lot of attention and notoriety for its contents. From its choice of casting to depictions of the transgender identity, the film reeks of performative inclusivity. Despite that, the film has been reaping in recognition with four Golden Globe Awards and 13 Oscar Nominations.

Debuting on Nov. 13, 2024, “Emilia Pérez” is a musical that supposedly concerns itself with the victims of violence and organized crime in Mexico. Predominantly filmed in Paris, the main cast of actors does not feature any actors of Mexican heritage. Karla Sofía Gascón, who plays Emilia, is from Spain, Zoe Saldaña, who plays Rita is from the United States with Dominican and Puerto Rican ancestry, and Selena Gomez, who plays Jessi Del Monte, is from the United States with Mexican and Italian heritage.

The film follows pre-transition Manitas Del Monte (Karla Sofía Gascón), leader of a drug syndicate, who undergoes genderaffirming surgery — mockingly called a “sex change operation” — in pursuit of a new life. During this period of time the titular character, Emilia, spends the majority of the first act being misgendered, from the lawyer she

hires to check prospective clinics, to workers at the hospital where she is getting her “sex change operation,” no one can seem to get her pronouns right. Prior to the surgery, Emilia is portrayed as aggressively masculine, despite the two years she has been on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). It is only after the oh-somagical “sex change operation” does she begin to present femininely.

This retrograde portrayal of the trans experience is driven in with the number “La Vaginoplastia.”

The over the top display of gender affirming surgery through a musical number is depicted from a horrifically cisgender point of view. With an unfounded confidence, Audiard alienates the script from the actual process of transition and lumps together surgeries that he deems fit for Emilia’s operations. From a mammoplasty and vaginoplasty being lumped together with an Adam’s apple reduction, “La Vaginoplastia” imbues the viewer with a sense of disgust at how casually Emilia’s physical appearance is targeted. The lyrics, “From penis to vagina,” are a complete reduction of a person’s gender to their anatomy.

In theory, the film aimed to use the trans experience as an allegory for being reborn. For Emilia to move past her time as Manitas the cartel boss, she has

always been recognized for its quiet scenes that build suspense with prolonged silence. These moments are intensified with every sound addition to the experience for new and old viewers.

The background noise, such as the city traffic buzz and far-off sirens blend with the raindrops to create a haunting atmosphere in every detail.

The image quality is also a complete standout. The amount of detail seen in close up shots of actor’s faces as well as landscape shots are amazing. It wouldn't be surprising if a first-time viewer confused it for a newly released film.

Verdict: The 4K remaster of “Se7en” being shown in the IMAX format presents a chance

to view one of the most iconic films of the 90s in a new way. For fans of this film, it’s a great way to rewatch this classic and notice the changes with this new remaster. For first-time viewers, it’s still an interesting yet disturbing film experience that will provoke shock.

to repent for her actions. Audiard had the perfect set up for a film that would capture what it would mean for Emilia to have to hide her identity due to the unfortunate circumstances she was born and raised in, however, he completely missed the mark.

Transitioning isn’t an end all be all. It’s not a moral decision that absolves Emilia of her past, and it isn’t even represented as something that will make her feel in touch with herself and her identity. Instead, throughout the film, Emilia repeatedly returns to her roots in crime in order to get further ahead in life and does not take accountability for her socalled “past life.”

That is not to say the film did not do anything right at all. In fact the one thing they did get right is the casting of Karla Sofía Gascón as Emilia Pérez. Casting a trans woman in the role of a trans woman is a step in the right direction. Unfortunately, it gets completely washed over by the film’s cisgender depiction of transness. From the opening scene where Rita is disgusted by Emilia’s appearance after two years on HRT, to discussions held with with the surgeon who was going to conduct Emilia’s “sex change operation,” the regressive politics of the film somehow manages to hit every trans trope ever used somehow, from a trans woman killer to family abandonment and the treatment of transition as death. If

representation is going to be seen through actors, the least the film can do is give the titular character a more fleshed out story.

The trivialization of the trans experience leaves the viewer in a pit of despair. Throughout the film Emilia feels like a liar, not only to those around her but also to herself. During her supposed journey to find herself, Emilia often sings “Who am I?” but does not fully understand the depths of her own actions, often talking about how “I was a he and now I’m a she.” Being trans isn’t something people do with a snap of their fingers, and yet, even with the input of a trans woman on screen, is depicted as such. “Emilia Pérez” can do so much more for representation, and yet it failed on almost every account. Congratulations, “Emilia Pérez,”

for being the ideal film for a ciswhite man to feel like they’re doing something.

Not to mention, the film won an award for Best Musical or Comedy in the Golden Globes. For something so heavily autotuned, it should not have even been considered for this privilege. Take into account “Subiendo,” the instrumental is grating to the ears and builds up to absolutely nothing with the vocals. With other standout films nominated for the Best Motion Picture category for musicals and comedies, such as “Wicked” and “Challengers,” “Emilia Pérez” does not deserve the praise and accolades it has received.

Henya Dadem // THE HIGHLANDER

SPORTS

UC Riverside upsets first place UC Irvine in overtime

UCR jumps into the top-three in the Big West standings, riding a three-game win streak.

By: Terry Nguyen, Assistant Sports Editor

Barrington Hargress led the way for the Highlanders, scoring 20 points and hitting the game-sealing shot in overtime with 15 seconds remaining. “It’s just a shot I work on … I knew that I was gonna get to that shot and I had all the confidence in the world that they weren’t gonna stop me making that shot,” Hargress said when describing the play postgame.

When asked what the win over the Anteaters meant for the program, Hargress commented, “This means everything. [UCI] is a great group that constantly wins championships and that’s where we wanna be. It’s a great test in the middle of the season to see where we are at and every time we go against them it’s always war, and that’s what we love…[we’ll] be ready to die on the court.”

Head coach Mike Magpayo was really happy with the performance of the Highlanders, and when asked if it was the biggest win at the Student Recreation Center (SRC) Arena in his career, he responded, “It’s right up there … This is the best Irvine team that we’ve played [because they’re] a top 50 team on a roll, undefeated in league, with an

elite defense.

“When you get a win like this, it certifies what we’re capable of. As a program, we’re continuing to build [and] we can do some amazing things.”

It was a balanced offensive attack for the Highlanders against UCI, as five players scored in double-digits. Kaleb Smith was the second-leading scorer with 13 points on 6/11 shooting. Joel Armotrading played solid defense when guarding Bent Leuchten, who is a candidate for conference Player of the Year. 7’ 1” Leuchten finished with 17 points on 4/11 shooting, while drawing multiple fouls which led Armotrading to foul out of the game in overtime.

Sophomore Myles Che, was UCI’s leading scorer with 20 points. Che played at University of Tennessee, at Chattanooga last season, then transferred to UCI, where he has blossomed into a solid scoring option for the Eaters.

It’s worth mentioning that the crowd was hyped for the game, and attendance was tallied at 1,479 according to ESPN. Some fans rushed the court following the Highlander victory, and the crowd noise was perhaps the loudest it's been all year. The fanfare of the squad has grown a lot this year, and a big reason has to do with the growing expecta-

tions of what the team can accomplish. UCR men’s basketball is still looking for its first Big West Championship, but its victory over UCI has sparked more belief into the team.

UCR picked up another victory on the road against California State University, Bakersfield on Saturday night to extend their winning streak to three games. They currently have the third best record in the conference, and host UC Davis on Thursday night.

Adelia Urena // THE HIGHLANDER

Highlanders lose 56-53 and split season series with UCI

Seneca Hackley scores a season high 18 points as UCR falls to the Anteaters.

By: Isaac Solnick, Sports Editor

Coming into Thursday’s game, the University of California, Riverside (UCR) and UC Irvine (UCI) women’s basketball teams saw themselves on opposite sides of the same coin.

On Jan. 18, UCI were locked in a back-and-forth contest with California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly SLO). A missed 3-pointer from Mustangs graduate guard Ashley Hiraki opened the door for the Anteaters. Junior guard Hunter Hernandez capitalized by converting an andone. Hernandez’s bucket gave UCI the 59-57 victory and improved their record to 6-1 in conference.

Meanwhile, UCR had clawed their way back from a nearly 20-point deficit against the University of California, San Diego. But with a chance to win the game on the final possession, the Highlanders came up just short and weren’t able to complete the improbable comeback. The heartbreaking 59-58 loss dropped the Highlanders to 4-3 in the Big West.

Nevertheless, junior guard Shelley Duchemin and the rest of the Highlanders were looking forward to their matchup with the Big West leading Anteaters.

Duchemin played a big role in the comeback against the Tritons and shared, “We were down almost 20 at one point. So at that point, it was just us against us. If we’re gonna win, it has to come from the team and everybody around us. We started passing the ball around, and we all were pretty motivated in that second half.”

The Highlanders would need to bring the same spirit to sweep the Anteaters. UCR won the first meeting 59-54, but 2023-2024 Big West Player of the Year

Déja Lee and UCI had extra motivation to avenge the only blemish on their conference record.

UCR head coach Brad Langston emphasized the importance of a potential sweep against the Anteaters.

“It would be tremendous for our progress moving forward. I think the team is working really hard, but to be able to put together a good win against a team that had NCAA [Tournament] experience would be huge for our momentum, to continue to move forward through the Big West.”

Langston also acknowledged that the Highlanders had their hands full with Lee. When asked about how he was preparing his team against the former Big West Player of the Year, Langston commented, “She’s a really strong driver, [and] limiting her ability to get inside the paint and then make our defense collapse [is important]. And then just making it tough [for Lee]. Picking her up full court, denying the basketball, just making sure that she doesn’t have access to the basketball to make plays for her team, espe-

cially down the stretch.”

Unfortunately for the Highlanders, they were without Duchemin, the team’s leading scorer, against UCI. However, Duchemin’s teammate, roommate and best friend, graduate guard Seneca Hackley, was ready to take her place in the starting five.

Duchemin and Hackley transferred in from the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) this season and their friendship has helped them deal with the expectations that came with the arrival of the inseparable pair.

Both players were eager to share how the other has helped them throughout their collegiate basketball careers.

Duchemin mentioned, “[Seneca has] known a lot of stuff that I struggled with at Northern Colorado. I lost my father, so coming [to UCR] together is kind of like a breath of fresh air for both of us, and we just kind of knew that if nobody else has our backs, we’re gonna have each other’s.”

Hackley shared a similar sentiment, elaborating, “Shelley is my best friend.

We’ve just been able to continue to grow throughout this past year. At UNC we were pretty close, but as we got here, we’ve just gotten even closer ... Just being able to play with her and spend every day with her has been really enjoyable.”

Hackley had made her last seven appearances off the bench, but she’s willing to help the team however she can. In the starting lineup or off the bench, Hackley credits her versatility to a boost in confidence as the season has gone on.

“I think that’s the thing that makes the most difference. The coaches have a lot of confidence in me and my teammates as well, and they’re growing in confidence and seeing what I’m capable of,” expressed Hackley.

Without Duchemin, Hackley took the reins on offense and led the Highlanders with a season high 18 points to go with a pair of assists.

For the Anteaters, junior guard Olivia Williams led the way with 12 points. Lee did it all for UCI. She chipped in with 10 points,

five rebounds, and five assists. Lee really turned it on in the third quarter to give the Anteaters a double-digit lead.

Going into the fourth quarter, freshman guard Kaylani Polk and sophomore forward Maya Chocano stepped up in Duchemin’s absence. Polk and Chocano looked more comfortable as the game went on and started to take more initiative on offense. They each scored 11 points and set career highs in both points and minutes played.

The Highlanders outscored UCI 19-12 in the fourth quarter, yet the Anteaters hung on to win 56-53. The loss dropped UCR to .500. However, the Highlanders bounced back by beating California State University, Bakersfield 60-48 on Saturday.

Hackley continued her hot streak with another 17 points as the Highlanders improved to 5-4 in the Big West. The Highlanders are back in action on the road against UC Davis. As the Aggies enter this contest 6-3, Thursday’s contest will play a big role in seeding the Big West tournament.

Elena Versage //THE HIGHLANDER

RIVERSIDE RECAPS

WOMEN’S TENNIS - 1/21/2025

San Jose St. vs. UCR 5-2, L

MEN’S TENNIS - 1/23/2025

UCR vs. UNLV

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL - 1/23/2025

UCR vs. UCI

UCR TEAM LEADERS:

Points: Seneca Hackley (18)

Rebounds: Kaylani Polk and Esther Matarranz (5)

Assists: Kaylani Polk (3)

MEN’S BASKETBALL - 1/23/2025

UCI vs. UCR

UCR TEAM LEADERS:

Points: Barrington Hargress (20)

Rebounds: Joel Armotrading (8)

Assists: Barrington Hargress (8)

MEN’S TENNIS - 1/24/2025

UCR vs. New Mexico

WOMEN’S TENNIS - 1/24/2025

Idaho vs. UCR

MEN’S TENNIS - 1/25/2025

UCR vs. Weber State

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL - 1/25/2025

CSUB vs. UCR

UCR TEAM LEADERS:

Points: Seneca Hackley (17)

Rebounds: Maya Chocano (12)

Assists: Esther Matarranz (5)

MEN’S BASKETBALL - 1/25/2025

UCR vs. CSUB 83-79, W

UCR TEAM LEADERS:

Points: Barrington Hargress (22)

Rebounds: Joel Armotrading (9)

Assists: Isaiah Moses (3)

Be valiant.

The Highlander Newspaper is a great way to keep up with current events and news around campus. If you are interested in the newspaper’s articles or pictures, we offer opportunities in writing, photography and design. Join us every Monday at 5:15 p.m. in HUB 101 to learn more.